Giles Clarke and Kevin Pietersen statements

Kevin Pietersen has signed a four-month ECB contract to begin the process of returning to international cricket. The deal was announced at a press conference in Colombo and below are the full statements read out by Pietersen and Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman

Giles Clarke

Clearly there has been a considerable amount of discussion around England cricket since issues emerged earlier this summer between Kevin and some of the England team. It has been the clear view of the ECB that proper investigation needed to take place into all aspects surrounding these issues. That investigation has only recently been concluded.

At the same time we have been waiting for the England dressing room and management to conclude that they were in agreement that the process of reintegration with Kevin could commence. Naturally, with the recent change of Test captain and the demands on the management preparing for and participating in an ICC world event this has meant that much time has been consumed. However, time is beneficial in these types of matters.

And in our society we believe that, if an individual transgresses, and the individual concerned recognises that and apologises for what they may have caused to those involved then it is important, and a fabric of our society that that individual should be given a real opportunity to be reintegrated into our society - and this principle is an essential part of having civilised and sensible ethics.

Kevin has apologised and he has said some further things today which are very important. I would like to make it clear that following this press conference the ECB and Kevin will consider the matter as closed and no further questions on the subject will be taken.

Kevin will be engaged in a reintegration process which has already started today with a lengthy meeting with myself and the process will continue in early October and will be led by the England team director, Andy Flower. Andy Flower will determine the progress of this process and he will advise the Board when he believes that the dressing room, the England management and Kevin himself are ready for Kevin to be reconsidered for selection. Following this, it will be a matter for the national selector and the team director to determine, as always, selection - and that could be very soon or much later; it will be entirely up to them.

The process is a private matter and we ask that you respect that and we will be giving no further updates.

Kevin Pietersen

I would just like to take this opportunity to apologise to my team-mates, all the England supporters and the ECB for the situation which has arisen over the last couple of months but thankfully we have drawn a line under it and it is time to move forward.

Although it has already been covered in the statement I would like to make it very clear that at no time did I share tactical information with any of the South Africans or South African management. Playing for England is the pinnacle of any cricketer's career and I want the opportunity to do that again as soon as possible. Some of my proudest and best moments of my life have been in an England shirt and I want them to continue for as long as possible.

I am entirely committed to completing the reintegration process we have agreed over the coming weeks and resuming my England career in all formats, hopefully until the World Cup in 2015, or as long as my body allows.

I want my son growing up seeing me playing for England and I hope that one day he will put an England shirt on himself.

Glad to see the ECB's 3rd paragraph. Based on that, when can we look forward to seeing an apology from them to KP and us? ... or was the word "individual" carefully used?

SAboucher
on October 3, 2012, 19:02 GMT

KP you are such a wonderful stuff.... though PINNACLE needs a redefinition!!!!

DrSunilSharma
on October 3, 2012, 13:42 GMT

KP is the hot property and a hero of IPL and loved by all Indians for his cricketing skills as a worlds top class batsman. Please allow me to joke, may be he should be offered to join Indian Test Team as a replacement for Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman .....lets do BCCI, I think there is a real chance. I have highest regard for the KP's professionalism and loyalty. Andy Flower and Straussy have real big egos, KP has already been captain of England and did resign selflessly for not getting support for the older coach. KP is more senior in the England team and should have been respected for his personality and contribution to English teams rise.

Dev90
on October 3, 2012, 13:27 GMT

I just want to see you back playing international cricket. The game is poorer off without you KP.

on October 3, 2012, 12:43 GMT

Reintegration???!!!! He sent some ill advised texts, he is not a criminal (Unlike the man who the ECB let land 1 million dollars in a helicopter on the Lords pitch)
The whole thing should have been sorted months ago, the England dressing, the ECB and KP himself should stop behaving like teenage girls and grow up

bumsonseats
on October 3, 2012, 12:24 GMT

KP i hope your son if he does go on and play cricket for england that he has more sense than his father and has people around him to giving him better information and help then his management seems to. an hope he does not listen to you.

satish619chandar
on October 3, 2012, 12:19 GMT

Is it Mr.KP "Playing for England is the pinnacle of any cricketer's career and I want the opportunity to do that again as soon as possible." Is playing for England pinnacle for ANY CRICKETER?

mumble_myopia
on October 4, 2012, 8:25 GMT

Glad to see the ECB's 3rd paragraph. Based on that, when can we look forward to seeing an apology from them to KP and us? ... or was the word "individual" carefully used?

SAboucher
on October 3, 2012, 19:02 GMT

KP you are such a wonderful stuff.... though PINNACLE needs a redefinition!!!!

DrSunilSharma
on October 3, 2012, 13:42 GMT

KP is the hot property and a hero of IPL and loved by all Indians for his cricketing skills as a worlds top class batsman. Please allow me to joke, may be he should be offered to join Indian Test Team as a replacement for Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman .....lets do BCCI, I think there is a real chance. I have highest regard for the KP's professionalism and loyalty. Andy Flower and Straussy have real big egos, KP has already been captain of England and did resign selflessly for not getting support for the older coach. KP is more senior in the England team and should have been respected for his personality and contribution to English teams rise.

Dev90
on October 3, 2012, 13:27 GMT

I just want to see you back playing international cricket. The game is poorer off without you KP.

on October 3, 2012, 12:43 GMT

Reintegration???!!!! He sent some ill advised texts, he is not a criminal (Unlike the man who the ECB let land 1 million dollars in a helicopter on the Lords pitch)
The whole thing should have been sorted months ago, the England dressing, the ECB and KP himself should stop behaving like teenage girls and grow up

bumsonseats
on October 3, 2012, 12:24 GMT

KP i hope your son if he does go on and play cricket for england that he has more sense than his father and has people around him to giving him better information and help then his management seems to. an hope he does not listen to you.

satish619chandar
on October 3, 2012, 12:19 GMT

Is it Mr.KP "Playing for England is the pinnacle of any cricketer's career and I want the opportunity to do that again as soon as possible." Is playing for England pinnacle for ANY CRICKETER?

No featured comments at the moment.

satish619chandar
on October 3, 2012, 12:19 GMT

Is it Mr.KP "Playing for England is the pinnacle of any cricketer's career and I want the opportunity to do that again as soon as possible." Is playing for England pinnacle for ANY CRICKETER?

bumsonseats
on October 3, 2012, 12:24 GMT

KP i hope your son if he does go on and play cricket for england that he has more sense than his father and has people around him to giving him better information and help then his management seems to. an hope he does not listen to you.

on October 3, 2012, 12:43 GMT

Reintegration???!!!! He sent some ill advised texts, he is not a criminal (Unlike the man who the ECB let land 1 million dollars in a helicopter on the Lords pitch)
The whole thing should have been sorted months ago, the England dressing, the ECB and KP himself should stop behaving like teenage girls and grow up

Dev90
on October 3, 2012, 13:27 GMT

I just want to see you back playing international cricket. The game is poorer off without you KP.

DrSunilSharma
on October 3, 2012, 13:42 GMT

KP is the hot property and a hero of IPL and loved by all Indians for his cricketing skills as a worlds top class batsman. Please allow me to joke, may be he should be offered to join Indian Test Team as a replacement for Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman .....lets do BCCI, I think there is a real chance. I have highest regard for the KP's professionalism and loyalty. Andy Flower and Straussy have real big egos, KP has already been captain of England and did resign selflessly for not getting support for the older coach. KP is more senior in the England team and should have been respected for his personality and contribution to English teams rise.

SAboucher
on October 3, 2012, 19:02 GMT

KP you are such a wonderful stuff.... though PINNACLE needs a redefinition!!!!

mumble_myopia
on October 4, 2012, 8:25 GMT

Glad to see the ECB's 3rd paragraph. Based on that, when can we look forward to seeing an apology from them to KP and us? ... or was the word "individual" carefully used?